Robert Harris (December 15, 1960 â November 3, 2020), known professionally as Randy Paul, was an American adult film actor, model, and trained stage performer. He was a prominent figure during the "Golden Age" of adult cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, recognized for his athletic "all-American" appearance and his rare ability to navigate the industry's straight, gay, and fetish markets.
Born in Bay Shore, Long Island, Harris grew up in a volatile household. Following the separation of his parents when he was eight, he witnessed a series of violent domestic incidents, culminating in his father attacking his mother with an ice pick. Harris's father died shortly thereafter.
Despite these early traumas, Harris was a gifted athlete, participating in baseball, basketball, and surfing. He was a high-achieving student placed in honors programs, though he later struggled with truancy. At age 19, seeking structure, he enlisted in the United States Navy. Following his service, he pursued a career in the arts, attending the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, He was one of only 75 students invited back for a second year of study, where he trained as a classical theater actor.
Harris began his career in the adult industry as a print and catalog model. His initial professional work consisted of still photography for both gay men's magazines and mainstream adult publications. His "boy next door" aesthetic made him a high-demand subject for print before he ever appeared on film.
Harris's introduction to the industry began in the early 1980s when he met actress Veronica Hart in New York. She invited him to appear as an extra in a softcore production. Faced with the financial pressure of supporting a partner and her young son, Harris decided to enter the adult industry professionally in 1986.
Using the name Randy Paul, he initially performed in gay and bisexual films for producers like Terry LeGrand and Falcon Studios. He eventually attempted to transition into the straight market, signing with agents Jim South and Reb Sawitz.
During this time, he faced significant industry stigma regarding "crossover" performers. Despite this, his acting talent and physique made him a high-demand star. Notable career highlights include such as Stryker Force (with Jeff Stryker), Final Impact, and Thrilled to Death. He performed alongside industry icons such as Nina Hartley, Amber Lynn, Peter North, and Siobhan Hunter.
He was nominated for the AVN Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1988 film The Horneymooners. This production was a popular parody of the classic television series, in which Paul played the role of Ed Norton.
In the 1990s, he became a fixture in the New York fetish scene, specifically the Toe Tales series produced by Adventure Studios, where he was cast as a "dominant" performer.
As the adult industry moved away from New York in the early 2000s, Harris transitioned into the culinary arts. He worked as a chef in high-end Manhattan establishments, including Sarabeth's Kitchen and various 5-star hotels.
In his later years, he returned to his hometown of Bay Shore. He remained a devoted father figure to his former partner's son, whom he had helped raise since the mid-1980s. Harris continued to practice acting and singing as a hobby.
Though he became a star in gay cinema, Harris was famously candid about his orientation, describing himself as "70% straight, 30% bi" and maintaining that he only sought romantic "soulmate" connections with women. He shared a lifelong, inseparable bond with his younger brother. Harris served as the godfather to his nephew (his younger brother's son), a role he took with great seriousness as the family's "all-American" patriarch. His habits, including a strict physical fitness regimen and a clean living space, were often attributed to his time in the Navy.
He spent 38 years as a primary father figure to the son of his former partner, Nancy, whom he continued to mentor and support long after the romantic relationship ended.
Robert Harris died on November 3, 2020, at the age of 59.